Garment hanger having slip preventing means



Feb. 9, 1965 H. w. WILSON 3,168,970

GARMENT HANGER HAVING sup PREVENTING MEANS Filed April 18, 1952INVENTOR. HARRY w. WILSON 33PM W United States Patent Office 3,168,976Patented Feb. 9, 1965 3,163,979 GARMENT HANGER HAVING @LIP PREVENTINGMEANS Harry W. i" iison, 2 Flower I toad, Garden City, NH. Fiied Apr.18, 1962, Ser. No. 183,427 3 #Ciaims. (ill. 223 32) This inventionrelates to friction or slip preventing means for garment hangers.

Many types of garment hangers having arms adapted to support items ofclothing in display cases, closets and the like are commerciallyavailable. One type of hanger, for example, has an arm in which thereare hooks and slots on which garments having various types of straps maybe conveniently hung. But this type of hanger is often inconvenient forhanging garments over the arm because they slip out of position andwrinkle or fall off. This is especially troublesome for hard surfaced orslippery garments and a different type of hanger is often used for suchgarments to avoid this difliculty.

The principal purpose of my invention is to provide friction meansadapted for installation on hangers of the type indicated so that theymay also be conveniently used for hanging garments, especially of thehard or slippery surfaced variety, over the arm of the hanger.

Another purpose of my invention is to provide friction means whichenhance the usefulness of hangers which may be used in this manner.

According to an embodiment of my invention, I provide a flexible,sleeve-type member having an upper surface of uneven contour. The membermay have, for example, a plurality of short, bristle-like projectionswhich define the uneven contour of the upper surface. This surface isadapted to be supported on the arm of the hanger so that when a garmentis hung over the arm, it bears against the uneven contour. This in turncauses substantial friction forces to be exerted on the garment so thatit does not slip from its proper position.

The embodiment also has gripping means dependent from the sides of theupper surface for engaging the hanger arm to keep the friction means inplace.

The slip preventing means which I provide may be readily andinexpensively fabricated from any suitable flexible material such as,for example, semi-rigid polyethylene plastic. When installed on a hangerof the type mentioned, it does not detract from the existing utility ofthe hanger. But, it does substantially enhance the usefulness of such ahanger for hanging garments in the usual manner, that is, over the armof the hanger, so that they do not easily slide out of place and wrinkleor fall off.

With my invention, one type of hanger may be used for all the hangingrequirements of, for example, one large clothing store, and the addedcosts otherwise required for keeping many special purpose hangersavailable can be avoided.

These and other features of my invention are described in detail in thefollowing portion of the specification.

In the description which follows reference is made to the accompanyingdrawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side view showing a hanger with an embodiment of myinvention installed for use.

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is a pictorial view of the embodimentof FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 5 is a bottom view of the embodiment of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view taken along line 6--6 of FIGURE 5.

FIGURE 7 is a side view showing a hanger on which the embodiment ofFIGURE 1 is installed to illustrate other positions in which it may beused.

In FIGURE 1, a hanger on which my invention may be used is indicated atIt). The hanger has an arm 11 on which garments are hung and which isadapted to be supported at its center by means such as hook 12. Arm Ii,which is commonly made from rigid plastic material, has a generallyI-shaped cross section, as may be observed in FIGURE 2, so that it isboth strong and light in weight. The I-shape is also advantageousbecause the upper flange 13 of the arm provides a wide upper edge sothat garments which are hung over the arm bearing on the upper edge arenot creased by the hanger.

In the hanger shown, arm 11 has hooks 14 at its ends so that garmentshaving narrow straps, such as, for example, ladies slips, or hangingloops as are often provided inside the waist of a skirt, may beconveniently supported. The hanger also has a slot 15 on each side ofarm 11 under the upper edge or flange 13. The slots 15 are adapted toreceive wider straps of a garment, such as, for example, shoulder strapsof an evening dress, for hanging.

Each slot 15 also has wide lip or flange portions around its edges, asindicated at It: and 17 in FIGURES 1 and 3. The upper edge or flange 13of the arm projects over slots 15 a sufficient distance so that garmentshung over the arm receive adequate, continuous support. But, an opening18 over each slot 15 is provided through the upper edge so that hangingstraps may be readily inserted into the slots.

An embodiment of my invention which is especially adapted for use onhanger it) is identified by number 20 in the drawings. As indicated inFIGURES 46, the slippreventing means of this embodiment has the generalconfiguration of a sleeve type member that is open along at least aportion of its lower surface. It may be fabricated from many differentflexible, resilient materials such as, for example, rubber, syntheticrubber or a thermoplastic. I have found that polyethylene plasticmaterial is very satisfactory. Polyethylene is advantageous because itmay be readily and inexpensively cast or molded in a desired shape andsize and with suitable flexibility. There are also other plasticmaterials which are suitable.

The means which I provide has an upper surface of uneven contour so thatthere will be large friction forces between the upper surface and anyitem which bears against it. That is to say, I provide an uneven contourin the. upper surface of the means of my invention so that there are lare coemcients of friction between that surface and any item bearingagainst it. Using polyethylene material, mentioned above, for theembodiment shown, such an uneven contour may be readily provided in theform of a plurality of short, blunt, bristle-like projections 21 whichare molded integrally with the member 2d so that they stand out rom theupper surface 22.

The member 26 of the present embodiment has flexible lip portions 23along the sides of upper surface 22. The lip portions 23 curl under theupper surface portion of the member 2% (as may be seen in FIGURES 2, 4or 6) to engage and grip the flange 13 and hold the device in place whenit is installed on the hanger. The lip portions may also have one ormore serrations, as at 24, so that the means 20 remains in place eventhough it is installed in a position where the upper edge of the hangerarm has high degrees of curvature. The lip portions of this embodimentalso have serrations at 25, the purpose of which is explained below.

Being flexible, the embodiment may be easily positioned so that itembraces the upper edge 13 of hanger arm 11. It may be snapped over theflange 1.3 and slid into place above the notches 15 (FIGURE 1), belowthe notches 15 (FIGURE 7) or both as illustrated on one side of arm 11in FIGURE 7. Lip portions 23 grip the edge ofthe arm holding the meansof this embodiment from sliding around the edge 13 and from pulling off.The serrations Z permit the lip portions to abut against the widenededges or flanges at the ends of slots 15 and serve to hold the memberfrom longitudinal movement along the hanger arm.

One end of the present embodiment of my invention is shown closed. Thatend is the one which embraces the portion of flange 13 which projectsover the top of a slot 15. This is a convenient construction whichenhances the integrity of the member. Such an arrangement may beprovided, of course, because the center or web portion 19 of theI-shaped arm is not present in the slots 15, so that the sleeveconfiguration need not be opened along the bottom surface at this end toaccommodate it.

Other configurations may be provided for the hanger shown and for othertypes of hangers. I have described my invention by illustrating anembodiment which is especially adapted for the hanger 11 in thedrawings, however, because this type of hanger has wide use in commercetoday. Large quantities of such hangers may be used in one largeclothing store, for example, and they represent a substantial investmentby the owner. They are especially desirable for use in ladies weardepartments or stores because the slots 15 and hooks 14, describedabove, permit a diversity of uses so that only one type of hanger isrequired. But, when smooth, hard finished or slippery garments are hungover the arm of the hanger, which is probably the most ordinary type ofhanger use, the garments often slide out of place and fall or wrinkle.This is especially inconvenient in a crowded showcase or closet, forexample, where many garments are hung and removed often with greatfrequency. Pressure of adjacent garments may cause the one which isbeing moved to be pulled off its hanger and vice versa. Additional timeand care is required to prevent such occurrences or, say, for hangingsuch garments as a silk dress, nightgown, silk-lined jacket andpeignoir, the expense of providing a completely different type of hangermust be borne.

With my invention, one type of hanger can be used in all of theseapplications. The slip preventing means which I provide is readilymanufactured at very low unit cost. Two to four units of the embodimentdescribed can be quickly and inexpensively installed on a hanger toenhance its usefulness for garments which are hung over the hanger arm.They may just as readily be removed as desired, or simply left in placebecause they do. not detract from the other useful features of thehanger. Hooks 14 may be used in the ordinary way. The same is true forthe slots 15 because the ends 26 of the member 20 do not close theopening 18 through the upper edge 13 of the hanger arm. Moreover, theflexible bristle-like projections 21 provided on upper surface 22 haveblunt or rounded ends so that they do not catch into a garment and evengarments of rough or nappy fabric can be accommodated with ordinaryfacility. And in all cases where garments are hung over the arm ofhangers on which slip preventing means of my invention are installed,friction forces which are exerted on the garments enhance assurance thatthey will stay in place.

I have disclosed and described my invention with detailed reference to aparticular embodiment thereof. Changes and departures from theembodiment discussed may be made without departing from the spirit andscope of my invention. That scope is defined by the claims which follow.

I claim:

1. A garment hanger and slip preventing means installed upon saidhanger, said hanger having a generally I-shaped cross-section, thevertical component of the I- shape being a vertically extending web andthe upper and lower horizontal portions of the I-shape defining a pairof flanges which extend along the upper and lower edges of said verticalweb, the upper flange of said hanger being adapted to support theshoulder portions of a garment, said upper flange being interrupted andseparated to form two pairs of spaced end portions between which theshoulder straps of a garment may be hung, said slip preventing meanscomprising a generally channelshaped member of relatively flexiblematerial conforming to the contours of the hanger, said channel-shapedmemher having an upper yoke portion which extends its full length andrests against the upper flange portion of the hanger, a plurality ofinwardly curved fingers formed along both side edges of said yoke, saidfingers engaging the side and bottom edges of said upper flange to holdsaid channel-shaped member in place thereon, and a pocket portion formedat one end of said channel-shaped member, said pocket portion beingslipped over one of said end portions of said upper flange of the hangerin order to prevent longitudinal displacement of said channelshapedmember relative to said flange.

2. Slip preventing means in accordance with claim 1, wherein a pluralityof pointed projections are formed on the upper surface of the yokeportion of said slip preventing means in order to prevent slipping ofthe garment thereon.

3. Slip preventing means in accordance with claim 1, wherein said yokeportion, side fingers and end pocket portion are all integrally moldedof a resilient material having a relatively high frictional'coefiicientand selected from the group consisting of rubber, synthetic rubber, andpolyethylene plastics.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,835,422 Stuard May 20, 1958' 2,904,233 Brothers Sept. 15, 19593,005,579 Thurber Oct. 24, 1961

1. A GARMENT HANGER AND SLIP PREVENTING MEANS INSTALLED UPON SAIDHANGER, SAID HANGER HAVING A GENERALLY I-SHAPED CROSS-SECTION, THEVERTICAL COMPONENT OF THE ISHAPE HAVING A VERTICALLY EXTENDING WEB ANDTHE UPPER AND LOWER HORIZONTAL PORTIONS OF THE I-SHAPE DEFINING A PAIROF FLANGES WHICH EXTEND ALONG THE UPPER AND LOWER EDGES OF SAID VERTICALWEB, THE UPPER FLANGE OF SAID HANGER BEING ADAPTED TO SUPPORT THESHOULDER PORTIONS OF A GARMENT, SAID UPPER FLANGE BEING INTERRUPTED ANDSEPARATED TO FORM TWO PAIRS OF SPACED END PORTIONS BETWEEN WHICH THESHOULDER STRAPS OF A GARMENT MAY BE HUNG, SAID SLIP PREVENTING MEANSCOMPRISING A GENERALLY CHANNELSHAPED MEMBER OF RELATIVELY FLEXIBLEMATERIAL CONFORMING TO THE CONTOURS OF THE HANGER, SAID CHANNEL-SHAPEDMEMBER HAVING AN UPPER YOKE PORTION WHICH EXTENDS ITS FULL LENGTH ANDRESTS AGAINST THE UPPER FLANGE PORTION OF THE HANGER, A PLURALITY OFINWARDLY CURVED FINGERS FORMED ALONG BOTH SIDE EDGES OF SAID YOKE, SAIDFINGERS ENGAGING THE SIDE AND BOTTOM EDGES OF SAID UPPER FLANGE TO HOLDSAID CHANNEL-SHAPED MEMBER IN PLACE THEREON, AND A POCKET PORTION FORMEDAT ONE END OF SAID CHANNEL-SHAPED MEMBER, SAID POCKET PORTION BEINGSLIPPED OVER ONE OF SAID END PORTIONS OF SAID UPPER FLANGE OF THE HANGERIN ORDER TO PREVENT LONGITUDINAL DISPLACEMENT OF SAID CHANNELSHAPEDMEMBER RELATIVE TO SAID FLANGE.